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New York: Eating strawberries is good for your gut health, says a study.

The study, to be presented at the 256th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), also found that strawberry treatments diminished inflammatory responses in the mice colonic issue.

"When you only test the purified compounds and extracts, you miss out on a lot of other important components in the berries, such as dietary fiber, as well as phenolic compounds bound to the fibers, that can't be extracted by solvents," notes lead study investigator Yanhui Han, a doctoral candidate in Dr. Xiao’s laboratory. Han says that it makes sense to study the effects of whole berries because people mostly consume the whole fruits rather than their extracts.

The findings suggest that the dietary consumption of whole strawberries, significantly suppressed symptoms like weight loss and bloody diarrhoea in mice with inflammatory bowel disease. So consuming a little less than a cup of strawberries could mitigate colonic inflammation and improve gut health.

Next, the team will try to validate their findings in IBD patients. While eating three-quarters of a cup of strawberries a day could be beneficial for those looking to enhance their gut health, Dr. Xiao advises patients to consult with their doctors before changing their diets. He also suggests avoiding this type of nutritional intervention if one is allergic to the fruit.

Eating strawberries has also proven to be good for improved eye care, proper brain function, relief from high blood pressure, arthritis, gout, and various cardiovascular diseases. The polyphenolic and antioxidant content of strawberries makes them beneficial for improving the immune system, preventing various types of cancers, and for reducing the signs of premature aging.

The red fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and K, folate, potassium, manganese, and magnesium. They are low-calorie, fiber-rich fruits, which are abundant in antioxidants and polyphenols. A cup of strawberries contains only 49 calories, provides 3g of fiber, and 12g of carbohydrates.